Traveling to the United States
Traveling is the general movement of individuals between different distant geographic locations. Travel can be to any place on earth or a number of places in less time than it takes to fly from one point to another. Travel is done by car, bike, foot, train, plane, truck or any other means, and can either be one-way or round trip traveling. Worldwide travel is fast becoming a popular tourist activity. In fact, it is the most popular type of vacation and presents many new opportunities for exciting, international adventures. There are a few key factors that need to be carefully considered when planning travel.
One of the primary considerations should always be whether travelers will be traveling to an area with known measles outbreaks. Measles is highly contagious, especially in un-vaccinated children, so anyone traveling to an area where the disease has been active should be up-to-date on routine vaccinations. If traveling to a destination in which the disease has not yet reached epidemic proportions travelers should receive two doses of measles vaccine within a week of arriving in the destination. Three doses are recommended months before traveling.
When considering international travel recommendations, another thing that should be carefully considered is personal hygiene. People need to wash their hands frequently; using hand sanitizers can significantly reduce the risk of spreading germs when shaking hands with others. Washing your hands frequently with soap and water is a good idea. You also need to get tested for hepatitis if traveling to Mexico, because there have been some cases of hepatitis in Mexico related to drug use. Other illnesses that might affect traveling to a foreign country include: flu, syphilis, malaria, meningitis, Mumps, Mononucleosis, rabies, hepatitis B, ticks or fleas.
Of course, medical travel is necessary for anyone prone to catching these types of infections, but having a safe and reliable place to stay can help to limit exposure. Close monitoring of symptoms is essential, so that if you are showing signs of illness or infection you can get tested and treated promptly. Be sure to follow all of the International Health, Safety and Environmental Protection Agency (HSEPA) guidelines for preparing your protection against harmful diseases while traveling. The most common recommendations are:
The protection recommended for traveling to the United States is very similar for traveling abroad. The best advice for both traveling to the United States and traveling abroad is to protect yourself by being up-to-date with routine vaccinations and by avoiding exposure to those suffering from illnesses that can make traveling to the United States dangerous. If you are among the millions of up-to-date and fully vaccinated people, the diseases can be kept to a minimum when traveling to the United States. In most cases, travelers can travel to the United States with the same confidence that they would have traveled to any other country.
It is important to protect yourself while traveling to the United States whether you are visiting from abroad or if you are returning to the United States from abroad. The information contained in this article is designed to be used for reference purposes only. It should not be used as, in place of or in conjunction with professional medical advice regarding the prevention of contagious diseases. Always consult your doctor regarding any medications or treatment. This article is not intended to provide health advice and the reader should consult with their physician for their medical concerns.